Canopy frame mounting for chairs



g- 17, 1954 R. D. VANDERMINDEN 2,686,527

CANOPY FRAME MOUNTING FOR CHAIRS Filed June 10, 1952 27 g5 INVENTOR. 26flofiel lfl Varzakrmimn ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CANOPY FRAME MOUNTING FOR CHAIRS York Application June 10,1952, Serial No. 292,678

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a canopy frame mounting for chairs, moreparticularly folding chairs of the lawn or beach type.

In chairs of this type canopies of various types have heretofore been inuse which are adjustably secured to the back uprights by means of boltsand wing nuts designed to be tightened on the bolts to secure thecanopies in adjusted positions. One of the difiiculties frequentlyencountered with these arrangements is the loosening of the nuts ontheir bolts as a result of adjustment of the canopies or of closing ofthe chairs to folded condition and often the annoying loss of such nuts.This loosening occurs because of the motion of the canopy supportingstraps on their bolts relative to the securing nuts with consequentloosening rotation thereof each time the canopy is swung for adjustmentor to a folded position.

Principal objects and features of the present invention are theprovision of novel canopy mounting means which eliminates entirely anytendency for loosening of the nuts on their bolts irrespective of thefrequency or extent of pivotal adjustment or folding of the canopyrelative to the body of the chair.

Further objects and features of the invention are the provision of novelcanopy mounting means that is simple and effective mechanically andwhich may be utilized without modification on existing chairs.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy frame mounted in position ofuse to a chair of the type described, only a portion of the chair beingshown;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line II-II of Fig. 1;and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

The chair itself (only partially shown) includes the usual rear uprightsiii and I! joined by a cross bar l2 which'serves as a support for theback l3 of canvas, duck or other suitable material.

The canopy frame comprises side bars 14 and Ida joined at their frontends, for example, by a front wire spreader l5 pivotally engaging eachof the side bars and covered by canopy material It similar to that ofthe back l3.

The canopy frame mounting means by which the frame is adjustably securedto the uprights l6 and ll of the chair include a pair of straps l1 andI8 pivotally secured at spaced apart points l9 and 26 to opposite sidesof each side bar 14 and Ida of the frame. The straps ll and it of eachpair near their ends most removed from their pivotal supports it and 20have non-circular holes 2| and 22 therein, which, preferably, are squareor have other polygonal shapes. The straps l7 and Id of each pair arebent outwardly at Ila and ltd so that the spacing between the parallelportions thereof bearing holes 2| and 22 is sub stantially that of thethickness of the uprights it and H.

The uprights lo and I! near their upper ends each have a transverselyextending bolt hole 25, preferably of somewhat larger diameter than thatof the strap holes 2i and 22. Straps I? and 18 of each pair arepositioned respectively to embrace one of the two uprights lo and I land with their holes 2! and 22 aligned with the bolt holes 24 of theseuprights. A headed bolt 25 having a portion 26 of non-circular crosssection, corresponding in shape and. substantially with the dimensionsof holes 2! and 22, is then inserted through the aligned holes 2E, 25and 22 of each pair with its head 21 in surface contact with the outwardface of one of the straps IT or I8 of each pair and with itsnon-circular portion engaged in, for example, the hole 2! of a strap N3of each pair. A wing nut 28 or other suitable nut is screwed onto thethreaded end 29 of each bolt 25 projecting outwardly of the hole 22 instrap ll of each pair and is tightened thereon to clamp the respectiveuprights ill or H firmly between a pair of the straps H and i8.

Because of the non-circular shape of hole 2! in each strap :8 and theengagement of its edges with the correspondingly shaped portion 26 ofthe bolt 25 extending therethrough, the bolt 25, members ll, it and wingnut 28 rotate as a unit whenever the canopy is rotated for adjustment,thereby eliminating possibility of accidental loosening of each wing nut28 on its bolt 25. In consequence, repeated pivotal adjustments of thecanopy frame to desired positions may be made without loosening ortightening of said nuts, thereby eliminating possibilities of loss ofnuts or bolts.

Moreover, it will be noted that the respective pairs of straps ii and i8lie on opposite sides of the respective uprights its and H and embracethem and that the heads 2? of the bolts and the wing nuts 23 bearrespectively against the outward faces of the said straps. Thus thefriction between the contacting surfaces of bolts, nut and straps hasthe tendency to rotate each bolt, nut

and their associated straps in unison, minimizing any tendency for thenuts to loosen or tighten on the bolts. Hence, even if the bolts arecircular in cross section the canopy frame can be adjusted with minimumdanger of loosening of the nuts. However, the preferable inclusion ofthe noncircular portions 26 on the bolts to engage in correspondingnon-circular holes 21 in the straps I8 provides positive prevention ofany accidental loosening or tightening of said nuts on said bolts duringpositional adjustments of the canopy frame.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described andshown, variations in structural detail within the scope of the claimsare possible and are contemplated. There is no intention, therefore, oflimitation to the exact details described and shown.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair having back uprights provided with transverse holes and acanopy frame supported by said uprights, said frame having oppositelylocated side bars, and means for mounting the canopy frame adjustablyfrom the uprights comprising a pair of straps secured pivotally atspaced-apart points to each side bar, each pair of straps havingspaced-apart portions for positioning the straps of the pair to embracean upright on its opposite sides, said straps having aligned openings intheir spaced-apart portions for alignment with the transverse hole ofthe upright which they embrace, headed bolts, one extending through thealigned holes of each pair of straps and the transverse hole of theupright 4 which each pair of straps embrace with the bolt head engagingthe outward face of one strap of said pair, the hole in one of each pairof said straps having a non-circular shape and the bolts havingnon-circular portions to fit and engage in the non-circular holes ofsaid straps, and a clamping nut screwed onto each bolt engaging theoutward face of the strap other than that engaged by the bolt head, thebolts, nuts and pairs of straps associated with them being rotatable asa unit during adjustment of the canopy frame, thereby eliminatingaccidental loosening of the nuts on the bolts during adjustment.

2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the straps of each pair are pivotallysupported at opposite sides of the respective side bars and wherein theside bars are joined at their front ends by a wire spreader pivotallyengaging each of the side bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 624,908 Conchar May 16, 1899 764,111 Clark July 5, 19041,155,366 Myers Oct. 5, 1915 2,062,249 Tornquist Nov. 24, 1936 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 247,398 Switzerland Jan. 3, 1948

